November 7, 2013

Nightmares and Dreams

Year after year, Pipeline delivers moments that are etched indelibly into surfing history.

Joel Parkinson, the defending Billabong Pipeline Masters champion and 2012 ASP Men’s World Champion, has experienced the agony and ecstasy of competing at Pipe and reflects on a couple of those moments...

To go down and chair Mick up the beach straight after IΓÇÖd lost in 2009, it was hard. It was really hard to get out of the house and walk down there but once I was down there I was stoked because I could see his excitement and he was crying in joy of his Title. I knew deep down I had to do it but I was so angry and frustrated at the time, and I just wanted answers, I wanted to know why things had happened the way they did and I didnΓÇÖt want to leave that thought process to go congratulate the guy whoΓÇÖd beat me. Once I got down there though it was all sweet again. I felt good that IΓÇÖd done it and I was so glad I hadnΓÇÖt just locked myself in my room and let that moment go. It was a tough moment but if I hadnΓÇÖt gone down there and carried Mick up IΓÇÖd be living in regret the rest of my life.

ΓÇ£In 2012 it was so much different between Mick and I. He knew coming into Pipe that he was a real long shot to win the world title. He had a pretty relaxed attitude because he needed a miracle. Even if Kelly and I had both lost out early, Mick put himself as the 100/1 shot. Mick lost out early to Shano and as soon as he lost his heat he sent me a really good text saying, ΓÇ£Go hard, IΓÇÖll be in your corner, IΓÇÖll be waiting on the beach for you.ΓÇ¥ And he was, the first guy there when I hit the beach after the final. I knew heΓÇÖd be there and it was so awesome that he was.ΓÇ¥